Sunday’s Premier League double-header throws up two intriguing match-ups, kicking off with a basement battle at 1.30pm before two European-chasing teams go head to head at 4pm.
Sunderland v Blackburn
Much was expected of Sunderland this season following a massive summer of transfer activity but the Black Cats have failed to fire with Steve Bruce paying the penalty to become the first Premier League managerial casualty of the season.
The Wearside faithful will no doubt be delighted to have seen Martin O’Neill – a boyhood fan of the club – installed in the hotseat, charged with the task of pulling the Black Cats out of the relegation zone.
The ‘new manager syndrome’ may well have the desired affect on Sunday with players perhaps playing for their futures under the new boss, although O’Neill will undoubtedly be aware of finding regular goals from his squad.
Love him (and there is seeming few that do) or loathe him but it looks as though Steve Kean is set to stay at Rovers, but he needs to start picking up points to deliver a ‘top ten’ target that he thinks is infinitely possible.
A 4-2 win over Swansea last weekend did little to appease the Rovers fans calling for his head at the final whistle, but a few more wins might just get them to rethink their attitude and start getting behind the team.
Yakubu is very much a man in form for Blackburn and his four-goal salvo last week took his tally to 10, more games than he has played, while he has bagged seven in his last five.
The Nigerian is on offer at a tempting 7/1 First/Last Goalscorer and 15/8 Anytime, and considering Rovers have scored in every away game, he is not a bad shout to get on the scoresheet again.
Sunderland won this fixture 3-0 last season but the fact that Darren Bent, Danny Welbeck and Asamoah Gyan scored the goals tells its own story as Bruce was unable to keep any at the club.
The Black Cats have not made the Stadium of Light the fortress that they would have wanted with just one win there so far, but they do have an impressive record against Rovers, particularly at home.
With both sides having won just one of their last nine games it does make it difficult to call, but injuries to Ruben Rochina and Martin Olsson as well as Steven Nzonzi’s absence through suspension may just swing things the home side’s way (Sunderland 5/6, Draw 13/5, Rovers 7/2 Match Betting).
Stoke v Spurs
These two sides have enjoyed contrasting fortunes this season with Stoke progressing in the Europa League, a tournament Spurs seem destined to be knocked out of – although they are very much in the title race.
Spurs are Evens in the match betting to extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 12 matches, winning 10 of the last 11, as they look to close the seven-point gap on Manchester City at the top of the table.
Scott Parker, Emmanuel Adebayor and Brad Friedel seem to have had the desired affect with the club winning their last six games and last three on the road, with Gareth Bale (7/1 First/Last Goalscorer, 15/8 Anytime) in particularly fine form.
Rafael van der Vaart has also been instrumental in the Lilywhites recent surge, although injury doubts over Bale, Jermain Defoe and Sandro could upset the applecart on Sunday.
Stoke have had one or two difficulties this term, particularly playing in Europe, but go into the game on the back of successive league wins – and have not had to worry about Europe this week.
Goals have been a problem but 14/5 on the home win or 12/5 on the draw look decent value considering they have beaten Liverpool and held both Chelsea and Manchester United at the Britannia Stadium – while they also knocked Spurs out of the Carling Cup.
The Potters have not exactly been full of goals this term but do provide an obvious aerial threat – something which Spurs have struggled with this season – and Robert Huth looks a good shout at 16/1 First/Last Goalscorer to add to his game winner at Everton last week.
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